The business of growing people
In this issue, we focus on the theme of professional development. Before helping your employees to develop themselves professionally though, I ask you to consider firstly what it was that inspired you to enter the horticultural industry? How might this knowledge better help you understand the reasons why people enter (and perhaps leave) this workforce?
One might assume working in the horticultural industry that we are all connected by a passion for plants. However, that passion expresses itself differently from person to person. Geoffrey Weir from Leeton Lawn and Garden Care has written in our pages about the majestic awe he felt reconnecting with nature whilst taking a much-needed break from work on a trip to Tasmania’s wilderness areas.
Judging by BBM’s newest ‘crop’ of Global Footprints Scholars, many young people in our industry also have a strong connection with our natural environment. This group of potential industry leaders will be travelling the globe researching their horticultural interests, including some very serious subjects such as climate change adaptation in horticulture and urban greening. No doubt they will be seeking to bring about change in our industry upon their return.
If you are seeking to make similar change in this industry, then you may like to get involved in the new Emerging Leaders program. This four-month program is aimed at younger staff, new managers or people stepping into bigger roles for the first time. Alternatively, if you own a nursery and want the skills to develop stronger systems to support you and your business, then you may consider participating in the Mushie Lean Leaders Program. Jennifer McQueen, Greenlife Industry Australia’s Director of Communications, writes about these two Nursery Levy-funded programs in this issue.
In other articles in these pages, John Fitzsimmons writes about the likely impact of artificial intelligence on the horticultural workforce; will it become much smarter than humans and what might this mean for the industry and jobs? Patrick Regnault argues that we are already losing our collective memory to computers in his article, ‘Reclaiming horticulture’s lost skills’. How will our industry adapt and evolve to this changing future? What might professional development look like in the future?
As part of my own professional development, I intend on visiting the upcoming Australian Horticultural Trials Week to be held in Melbourne in December. This annual event provides a vehicle for a range of plant exhibitors, including breeders and growers, and allied suppliers to showcase their products and services.
As the (relatively) new editor of this horticultural magazine, I am looking forward to connecting with fellow industry members at one or more of the networking events that the Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria’s (NGIV) is putting on as part of Trials Week. If you are a morning person, as many of you are, then come and say hello at the breakfast to be held at JD Propagation in Pearcedale (not Ball Australia as previously advertised in these pages). Otherwise, I look forward to meeting you at the Monday evening dinner, Trade Day, or at one of the participating businesses.
I hope to see you there!
Until next time,
Gabrielle Stannus and your Hort Journal team